Poverty and its Alleviation Lessons for Nigeria

The study focused on the persistent poverty status in Nigeria in spite of all the actions and activities directly and indirectly put in place to reduce it. Nigerian poverty statistics and government actions in tackling poverty were examined. Few countries that have succeeded in reducing poverty position were briefly examined. Specifically, we highlighted how Malaysia, China and South Korea aspired and attained high level poverty alleviation. The lessons of their success stories were the basis for recommendations for Nigeria as a panacea for poverty reduction which has persevere in spite of every efforts over the years. Among the recommendations made include designing of poverty line for the entire geopolitical zone, stating target of poverty reduction within a time frame, and sincerely implementing and monitoring of strategies, programmes and policies. Kalu E. Uma | Paul C.Obidike | Frank O. Ozoh "Poverty and it's Alleviation: Lessons for Nigeria" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-1 | Issue-4 , June 201

Book Review

The Looting Machine:Warlords, Oligarchs, Corporations, Smugglers, and the Theft of Africa’s Wealth Tom Burgis. Public Affairs. New York, 2015, 319pp.ISBN: 978-1-61039-439-0 (hardcover)ISBN: 978-1-61039-440-6 (e-book

Using Emphasis-Purposeful Sampling-Phenomenon of Interest–Context (EPPiC) Framework to Reflect on Two Qualitative Research Designs and Questions: A Reflective Process

A satisfactory research question often signifies the beginning point for many researchers. While this can be true for quantitative studies because of pre-defined research questions, qualitative research questions undergo series of revisions through a reflective process. This reflective process provides the framework for the subjectivity associated with qualitative inquiry. The continuous iterative reflective process is an essential component for developing qualitative research questions that correspond with the various qualitative study designs. Although qualitative inquiry is term exclusively subjective, there is a need to use a framework in developing qualitative research questions. The Emphasis- Purposeful sampling- Phenomenon of interest – Context (EPPiC) framework guides qualitative researchers in developing and revising qualitative research questions to suit a specific qualitative approach. This article addresses both the development of a research question using the “EPPiC framework” and demonstrate how to revise the “developed” research question to reflect two qualitative research design. I developed a qualitative research question for Sally Thorne’s Interpretive Description design using the EPPiC Framework and subsequently revised the research question to suit a grounded theory design

Synthesis and Evaluation of 1,2,4-oxadiazolidinones: The Search for Potential non-β-lactam β-lactamase Inhibitors.

β-lactam antibiotics have been the most widely used drug of choice to combat infectious disease caused by bacteria. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of these antibiotics is drastically threatened by bacterial β-lactamases. β-lactamases are currently responsible for the resistance to most β-lactam antibiotic drugs. For decades, β-lactam β-lactamases inhibitors have been used to reduce bacterial resistance, however, in this study, we will employ the use of 1,2,4-oxadiazolidinone derivatives as a non-β-lactam β-lactamases inhibitor against TEM-1 and P99 β-lactamases. The significance of oxadiazolidinone is the prominent five-membered ring in its structure, which is configurationally stable and present in other biologically active compounds such as linezolid and avibactam. Oxadiazolidinones were synthesized in two steps procedure using nitroalkanes and benzaldehyde as starting materials to produce nitrones, which in turn undergo 1,3- dipolar cycloaddition with substituted isocyanates to give the desired 1,2,4-oxadiazolidin analogs (2a, 2b, 2c and 3). Each product was purified and characterized using 1H NMR and 13C NMR, GC-MS, IR, and UV/Vis analysis. Following their successful synthesis and structural elucidation, they were tested with TEM-1 and P99 serine β-lactamase using Nitrocefin as the substrate to ascertain their effectiveness against β-lactamase. 2a, 2b, 2c and 3 showed inhibition ranging from 12-38 %

In Situ Degradation of Polyhalogenated Aromatic Hydrocarbons by Electrochemically Generated Superoxide Ions

The reduction of dioxygen in aprotic media yields superoxide ions which react with polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons by nucleophilic substitution. The degradation of hexachlorobenzene to bicarbonates and chlorides using in situ generated superoxide ions was carried out at room temperature in a flow cell system equipped with a gas fed, porous electrode. The effects of current, electrolyte flow, and aprotic media on the extent of degradation of hexachlorobenzene are presented

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published or submitted for publicatio

Performance Evaluation of MDGs Conditional Grants Scheme in Rivers State, Nigeria

The paper highlights the report of the process and impact evaluation of the Conditional Grant Scheme (CGS) of the federal government of Nigeria, in Rivers State primary health care (PHCS) in the years 2008 and 2009.  The process assessment reveal that to a large the MDG office in Port Harcourt conform to the guidelines on contract award, composition of tender board, procurement process and inter agency collaboration. Investigation however reveals that the communities are not fully involved at the point of project implementation. This has created capacity under utilization of facilities in the primary health care centers, the paper recommended active collaboration between the state and the communities, as well as involvement of the private sector to enhance the sustainability of the project. Key Words: Conditional Grants Scheme (CGS), Millennium Development Goal (MDG), Procurement Process, inter agency collaboration

Micro-Savings and Poverty Reduction in Nigeria: Some Field Observations from Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State

This study had the objective of investigating issues relating to micro-saving and how it can be employed to reduce poverty in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria.  A field survey was conducted in which primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire.  A total of 102 micro-saving cooperative members were interviewed.  Based on descriptive statistics tools of percentages and simple averages, the study reveals that micro-saving is a veritable source of raising funds for investment. Also, lack of access to formal financial institution makes people to patronize micro-savings in Gokana LGA. Again, respondents engaged in micro-savings for emergencies and unexpected investment purposes while cultural obligations induce respondents to engage in micro-saving and more. It is therefore suggested that an enabling macroeconomic environment be given to informal financial sector of Nigeria. This can be achieved by encouraging members of the micro-saving cooperatives to register at least at the local government council to promote assistants from the government on their operations. Keywords: Gokana, Micro-Savings and Poverty Reductio

Effective Supply Chain Management: A Strategic Tool for Profitability Enhancement in the Competitive Marketing Environment (An Empirical Evidence in the Nigerian Food and Beverage Industry 2005 - 2014)

To compete successfully in today’s fierce and challenging business environment, companies need to focus on supply chain management components that have impact in enhancing profitability. The study examined Effective Supply Chain Management: A Strategic tool for Profitability Enhancement in the Competitive Marketing Environment ( An Empirical Evidence in the Nigerian Food and Beverage Industry 2005-2013). The problem x-rayed here stems from the huge cost burden and poor performance of industries in Nigeria which was made manifest by its low Profit After Tax and poor contribution of 6% to the Gross Domestic product (GDP) and also holding the fact that many firms have gone extinct from the marketing environment and only four companies (Honeywell flour mills Plc, Flour mills of Nigeria Plc, Northern Nigeria Flour Mill Plc and Lafarage Dangote Flour Mill Plc) control 50% of the entire flour mills market share among the 22 surviving firms. The major objective of this study is examining the relationship between Supply Chain Management cost components and Profitability of Food and  Beverage industry in Nigeria and their impact on firm’s survival as measured by the Profit After Tax (PAT) and other source document. Specifically, the objectives were to; examine the nature of relationship existing between supply chain management and profitability of the flour mills, ascertain if the volume of Goods in Transit affects the profitability of the flour mills and ascertain the supply chain management strategy/model adopted by the selected flour mills. Data collected from Annual reports of various issues were analyzed using inferential statistics such as Pearson correlation model and simple regression analysis. The results of the findings showed firms after investing heavily in their supply chain component does not  reflect significantly in their profitability. The study concludes that there is a significant relationship between Effective SCM and Profitability growth, that to ensure sustainable supply chain management operation which will ensure increased profitability in the industrial sector, Supply Chain operational inefficiencies ultimately will have adverse effects upon profits. Turning the situation round, difference in the efficiency of the inventory control for a given level of flexibility affects the level of investment required in inventory. The less efficient is the inventory control, the greater is the investment required. Excessive investment in inventories increase cost and reduce profits, thus, the effects of inventory control of flexibility and on level of investment required in inventories represent two sides of the same coin. This will also help in reducing the high cost burden which lies on the ability to reduce production cost Various recommendations were made which includes that production firms should adopt the SCM integration model that was specified in the study, to become competitive strategic weapon in such a way that it enhances their sales and profitability and also should adopt the Supply chain strategy/models that was developed in this study as it will best align with their operations and target customers, supply chain operations must abandon fragmented approaches